Chapter 90: Fighting ontest to Find a Suitor (7)
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"What are you laughing at?" the fat one shouted to the crowd. "Isn't this a contest to find a spouse! I am not married, why can't I try my luck?"
"Venerable ancestor," said the monk while giggling, "even if you win, you wouldn't want this girl, as beautiful as a flower, to become a widow right away!"
"And you," said the fat one angrily, "What are you here for?"
"If I can have such a pretty girl," replied the monk, "I'll return to the secular world!"
The crowd was roaring again.
The girl frowned her eyebrows, apparently annoyed. She removed the cape which she used to cover herself and wanted to continue the fight. Mu Yi held her arm, saying not to be irritated, and replanted the banner in the ground. The monk and the obese person continued their bickering, each wanted to fight the girl first.
"Why don't you start fighting against each other first?" the hilarious spectators suggested. "The winner will have the honor to fight the girl!"
"Allright," the monk said. "Old chap, let's have a little fun! He threw a blow with his fist, the obese one avoided it by lowering his head, before returning the blow."
Guo Jing recognized the style of the monk, the Arhat style from the ShaoLinTemple. The obese one practised the style of the Five Movements. Both were thus practitioners of external gongfu. The monk showed himself of great agility, whereas the obese one, in spite of his age, privileged heaviness and power. Suddenly, the monk stealthily struck three blows at the stomach of his adversary, who fought stoically, in order to be able to batter down his right fist on the head of the monk. Who fell to the ground, dazzled, then found his spirits again, took a knife out of his robe and run to attack. The crowd shed a cry of surprise. The obese one leapt back before wielding an iron whip which was rolled up around his waist: thus, both had become armed! The fight began again, still desperate, but more dangerous. The spectators applauded while moving back, fearing to be injured by straying blows.
Mu Yi approached the two men and said with a loud voice, "Stop! We are here in the imperial capital, it is forbidden to exhibit weapons!" The two adversaries, carried away by their fight did not give any attention to him. Mu Yi leapt suddenly, jumping he kicked the knife of the monk while seizing the end of the whip. He drew with force, the obese one could not resist and released the whip. Mu Yi threw the whip onto the ground. The two adversaries, not daring to fight anymore, collected their weapons shamefully and disappeared under the gibes from the crowd.
Then tinkling of small bells which were attached to the harnesses of horses was heard and one saw a flamboyant company appearing: several tens of vigorous servants accompanying a young nobleman. He looked at the brocade banner and examined the girl from head to toes. Then he smiled, got down from his horse and came forward.
"Is this the girl who seeks a husband through a contest?" he asked. The girl blushed and turned her head without answering. Mu Yi advanced, joining his fists and greeted, "My name is Mu. What does the young Lord wish?"
"What are the rules of this contest?"
Mu Yi explained it to him.
"Then I want to try my chance as well…" He was a young and handsome nobleman about eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a lavish brocade coat.
"At last a boy," thought Guo Jing, "who would make a beautiful couple with this girl! Unfortunately the monk and the old obese one a while ago were not up to par, if not… if not…"
"Your Lordship is joking," said Mu Yi mortified.
"What do you mean?"
"We are only wanderers without abode, how would we dare to measure ourselves against you? And it is not an ordinary contest, it decides the marriage of my daughter … Please forgive us."
"Since when have you held this contest?"
"It has been more than six months that we traverse the roads."
"And still nobody could overcome your daughter?" the young nobleman said unbelievingly.
"It is undoubtedly," Mu Yi answered smiling, "because the experts in martial arts are all already married, or they condescend to be measured with her."
"OK, OK!" the young dandy exclaimed. "I will test …"
"This is a young man with a refined and distinguished bearing," Mu Yi thought. "If he came from an ordinary family, he would have made a husband of choice for my child. But obviously, he belongs to the nobility. We are here in the capital of Jin, his family is perhaps well-known at the Court, or in any case, he is certainly rich and powerful. If my daughter wins, that could be worth our troubles; if she loses, would it be bad for us to be united to such a family?"
"We are just wanderers in the realm of Rivers and Lakes," he said, "we cannot measure ourselves with you. Please forgive us! We will leave!"
"This is an honorable contest," the young nobleman said laughing. "I assure you, I will not harm your daughter." He then turned to the girl and said amiably, "It will be enough that the young lady touches me to win, allright?"
"In a contest, it is necessary to comply strictly to the rules," the girl protested.
"Hurry up with the fight," a cry was heard from the crowd. "The speedier you will fight, the more quickly you will be married, and the more quickly you will have babies!" The spectators burst out into laughter. The girl wrinkled her eyebrows and removed her cape sulkily. She greeted the young nobleman, who bowed in return, "Please, young lady."
"This young dandy grew in affluence," Mu Yi thought, "does he know martial arts? It is better to defeat him quickly and to leave the city as soon as possible, in order to avoid trouble."
"Allright," then he said, "perhaps Your Lord wants to get rid of his coat."
"That is not necessary," the young dandy said smiling.
The spectators, who knew the ability of the girl, thought that to show oneself that careless, one was going to suffer!
"But," some of them thought, "they must have experience in the realm of Rivers and Lakes. They will certainly not injure a son of a noble family. They probably will arrange that he does not lose face."
"Do you believe," whispered the others, "that they really perform a 'contest to find a spouse'? Probably, old Mu only wants to benefit from the beauty and gongfu of his daughter to cheat money from fools! This young dandy should watch his wallet!"
"Please!" the girl also said. The young nobleman swivelled towards the right, whereas his left sleeve flew with flashing speed towards the shoulder of the girl. She, surprised by the speed and skill of the attack, leaned and plunged, thus escaping the blow. But the action of her adversary was stunning, the right sleeve already arrived near the head of the girl, clamping both sides. She had to leap back with the quickness of an arrow.
"Good!" the young nobleman shouted, he advanced without letting her the time to fall down on her feet. The girl, still in the air, swivelled and attacked to defend herself, kicking with her left foot in the direction of the nose of the young man. He had to move back hastily, and both fell down simultaneously on their feet. The young man had attacked with three stances, the girl had defended herself with agility, they both began to feel respect and watched each other. The girl blushed, and took the initiative to attack. The battle started anew, more desperate: it was performed so quickly that the young man looked like a shadow of shining brocade, whereas the girl resembled a red cloud.
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"What are you laughing at?" the fat one shouted to the crowd. "Isn't this a contest to find a spouse! I am not married, why can't I try my luck?"
"Venerable ancestor," said the monk while giggling, "even if you win, you wouldn't want this girl, as beautiful as a flower, to become a widow right away!"
"And you," said the fat one angrily, "What are you here for?"
"If I can have such a pretty girl," replied the monk, "I'll return to the secular world!"
The crowd was roaring again.
The girl frowned her eyebrows, apparently annoyed. She removed the cape which she used to cover herself and wanted to continue the fight. Mu Yi held her arm, saying not to be irritated, and replanted the banner in the ground. The monk and the obese person continued their bickering, each wanted to fight the girl first.
"Why don't you start fighting against each other first?" the hilarious spectators suggested. "The winner will have the honor to fight the girl!"
"Allright," the monk said. "Old chap, let's have a little fun! He threw a blow with his fist, the obese one avoided it by lowering his head, before returning the blow."
Guo Jing recognized the style of the monk, the Arhat style from the ShaoLinTemple. The obese one practised the style of the Five Movements. Both were thus practitioners of external gongfu. The monk showed himself of great agility, whereas the obese one, in spite of his age, privileged heaviness and power. Suddenly, the monk stealthily struck three blows at the stomach of his adversary, who fought stoically, in order to be able to batter down his right fist on the head of the monk. Who fell to the ground, dazzled, then found his spirits again, took a knife out of his robe and run to attack. The crowd shed a cry of surprise. The obese one leapt back before wielding an iron whip which was rolled up around his waist: thus, both had become armed! The fight began again, still desperate, but more dangerous. The spectators applauded while moving back, fearing to be injured by straying blows.
Mu Yi approached the two men and said with a loud voice, "Stop! We are here in the imperial capital, it is forbidden to exhibit weapons!" The two adversaries, carried away by their fight did not give any attention to him. Mu Yi leapt suddenly, jumping he kicked the knife of the monk while seizing the end of the whip. He drew with force, the obese one could not resist and released the whip. Mu Yi threw the whip onto the ground. The two adversaries, not daring to fight anymore, collected their weapons shamefully and disappeared under the gibes from the crowd.
Then tinkling of small bells which were attached to the harnesses of horses was heard and one saw a flamboyant company appearing: several tens of vigorous servants accompanying a young nobleman. He looked at the brocade banner and examined the girl from head to toes. Then he smiled, got down from his horse and came forward.
"Is this the girl who seeks a husband through a contest?" he asked. The girl blushed and turned her head without answering. Mu Yi advanced, joining his fists and greeted, "My name is Mu. What does the young Lord wish?"
"What are the rules of this contest?"
Mu Yi explained it to him.
"Then I want to try my chance as well…" He was a young and handsome nobleman about eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a lavish brocade coat.
"At last a boy," thought Guo Jing, "who would make a beautiful couple with this girl! Unfortunately the monk and the old obese one a while ago were not up to par, if not… if not…"
"Your Lordship is joking," said Mu Yi mortified.
"What do you mean?"
"We are only wanderers without abode, how would we dare to measure ourselves against you? And it is not an ordinary contest, it decides the marriage of my daughter … Please forgive us."
"Since when have you held this contest?"
"It has been more than six months that we traverse the roads."
"And still nobody could overcome your daughter?" the young nobleman said unbelievingly.
"It is undoubtedly," Mu Yi answered smiling, "because the experts in martial arts are all already married, or they condescend to be measured with her."
"OK, OK!" the young dandy exclaimed. "I will test …"
"This is a young man with a refined and distinguished bearing," Mu Yi thought. "If he came from an ordinary family, he would have made a husband of choice for my child. But obviously, he belongs to the nobility. We are here in the capital of Jin, his family is perhaps well-known at the Court, or in any case, he is certainly rich and powerful. If my daughter wins, that could be worth our troubles; if she loses, would it be bad for us to be united to such a family?"
"We are just wanderers in the realm of Rivers and Lakes," he said, "we cannot measure ourselves with you. Please forgive us! We will leave!"
"This is an honorable contest," the young nobleman said laughing. "I assure you, I will not harm your daughter." He then turned to the girl and said amiably, "It will be enough that the young lady touches me to win, allright?"
"In a contest, it is necessary to comply strictly to the rules," the girl protested.
"Hurry up with the fight," a cry was heard from the crowd. "The speedier you will fight, the more quickly you will be married, and the more quickly you will have babies!" The spectators burst out into laughter. The girl wrinkled her eyebrows and removed her cape sulkily. She greeted the young nobleman, who bowed in return, "Please, young lady."
"This young dandy grew in affluence," Mu Yi thought, "does he know martial arts? It is better to defeat him quickly and to leave the city as soon as possible, in order to avoid trouble."
"Allright," then he said, "perhaps Your Lord wants to get rid of his coat."
"That is not necessary," the young dandy said smiling.
The spectators, who knew the ability of the girl, thought that to show oneself that careless, one was going to suffer!
"But," some of them thought, "they must have experience in the realm of Rivers and Lakes. They will certainly not injure a son of a noble family. They probably will arrange that he does not lose face."
"Do you believe," whispered the others, "that they really perform a 'contest to find a spouse'? Probably, old Mu only wants to benefit from the beauty and gongfu of his daughter to cheat money from fools! This young dandy should watch his wallet!"
"Please!" the girl also said. The young nobleman swivelled towards the right, whereas his left sleeve flew with flashing speed towards the shoulder of the girl. She, surprised by the speed and skill of the attack, leaned and plunged, thus escaping the blow. But the action of her adversary was stunning, the right sleeve already arrived near the head of the girl, clamping both sides. She had to leap back with the quickness of an arrow.
"Good!" the young nobleman shouted, he advanced without letting her the time to fall down on her feet. The girl, still in the air, swivelled and attacked to defend herself, kicking with her left foot in the direction of the nose of the young man. He had to move back hastily, and both fell down simultaneously on their feet. The young man had attacked with three stances, the girl had defended herself with agility, they both began to feel respect and watched each other. The girl blushed, and took the initiative to attack. The battle started anew, more desperate: it was performed so quickly that the young man looked like a shadow of shining brocade, whereas the girl resembled a red cloud.
"What are you laughing at?" the fat one shouted to the crowd. "Isn't this a contest to find a spouse! I am not married, why can't I try my luck?""Venerable ancestor," said the monk while giggling, "even if you win, you wouldn't want this girl, as beautiful as a flower, to become a widow right away!""And you," said the fat one angrily, "What are you here for?""If I can have such a pretty girl," replied the monk, "I'll return to the secular world!"The crowd was roaring again.The girl frowned her eyebrows, apparently annoyed. She removed the cape which she used to cover herself and wanted to continue the fight. Mu Yi held her arm, saying not to be irritated, and replanted the banner in the ground. The monk and the obese person continued their bickering, each wanted to fight the girl first."Why don't you start fighting against each other first?" the hilarious spectators suggested. "The winner will have the honor to fight the girl!""Allright," the monk said. "Old chap, let's have a little fun! He threw a blow with his fist, the obese one avoided it by lowering his head, before returning the blow."Guo Jing recognized the style of the monk, the Arhat style from the ShaoLinTemple. The obese one practised the style of the Five Movements. Both were thus practitioners of external gongfu. The monk showed himself of great agility, whereas the obese one, in spite of his age, privileged heaviness and power. Suddenly, the monk stealthily struck three blows at the stomach of his adversary, who fought stoically, in order to be able to batter down his right fist on the head of the monk. Who fell to the ground, dazzled, then found his spirits again, took a knife out of his robe and run to attack. The crowd shed a cry of surprise. The obese one leapt back before wielding an iron whip which was rolled up around his waist: thus, both had become armed! The fight began again, still desperate, but more dangerous. The spectators applauded while moving back, fearing to be injured by straying blows.Mu Yi approached the two men and said with a loud voice, "Stop! We are here in the imperial capital, it is forbidden to exhibit weapons!" The two adversaries, carried away by their fight did not give any attention to him. Mu Yi leapt suddenly, jumping he kicked the knife of the monk while seizing the end of the whip. He drew with force, the obese one could not resist and released the whip. Mu Yi threw the whip onto the ground. The two adversaries, not daring to fight anymore, collected their weapons shamefully and disappeared under the gibes from the crowd.Then tinkling of small bells which were attached to the harnesses of horses was heard and one saw a flamboyant company appearing: several tens of vigorous servants accompanying a young nobleman. He looked at the brocade banner and examined the girl from head to toes. Then he smiled, got down from his horse and came forward."Is this the girl who seeks a husband through a contest?" he asked. The girl blushed and turned her head without answering. Mu Yi advanced, joining his fists and greeted, "My name is Mu. What does the young Lord wish?""What are the rules of this contest?"Mu Yi explained it to him."Then I want to try my chance as well" He was a young and handsome nobleman about eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a lavish brocade coat."At last a boy," thought Guo Jing, "who would make a beautiful couple with this girl! Unfortunately the monk and the old obese one a while ago were not up to par, if not if not""Your Lordship is joking," said Mu Yi mortified."What do you mean?""We are only wanderers without abode, how would we dare to measure ourselves against you? And it is not an ordinary contest, it decides the marriage of my daughter Please forgive us.""Since when have you held this contest?""It has been more than six months that we traverse the roads.""And still nobody could overcome your daughter?" the young nobleman said unbelievingly."It is undoubtedly," Mu Yi answered smiling, "because the experts in martial arts are all already married, or they condescend to be measured with her.""OK, OK!" the young dandy exclaimed. "I will test ""This is a young man with a refined and distinguished bearing," Mu Yi thought. "If he came from an ordinary family, he would have made a husband of choice for my child. But obviously, he belongs to the nobility. We are here in the capital of Jin, his family is perhaps well-known at the Court, or in any case, he is certainly rich and powerful. If my daughter wins, that could be worth our troubles; if she loses, would it be bad for us to be united to such a family?""We are just wanderers in the realm of Rivers and Lakes," he said, "we cannot measure ourselves with you. Please forgive us! We will leave!""This is an honorable contest," the young nobleman said laughing. "I assure you, I will not harm your daughter." He then turned to the girl and said amiably, "It will be enough that the young lady touches me to win, allright?""In a contest, it is necessary to comply strictly to the rules," the girl protested."Hurry up with the fight," a cry was heard from the crowd. "The speedier you will fight, the more quickly you will be married, and the more quickly you will have babies!" The spectators burst out into laughter. The girl wrinkled her eyebrows and removed her cape sulkily. She greeted the young nobleman, who bowed in return, "Please, young lady.""This young dandy grew in affluence," Mu Yi thought, "does he know martial arts? It is better to defeat him quickly and to leave the city as soon as possible, in order to avoid trouble.""Allright," then he said, "perhaps Your Lord wants to get rid of his coat.""That is not necessary," the young dandy said smiling.The spectators, who knew the ability of the girl, thought that to show oneself that careless, one was going to suffer!"But," some of them thought, "they must have experience in the realm of Rivers and Lakes. They will certainly not injure a son of a noble family. They probably will arrange that he does not lose face.""Do you believe," whispered the others, "that they really perform a 'contest to find a spouse'? Probably, old Mu only wants to benefit from the beauty and gongfu of his daughter to cheat money from fools! This young dandy should watch his wallet!""Please!" the girl also said. The young nobleman swivelled towards the right, whereas his left sleeve flew with flashing speed towards the shoulder of the girl. She, surprised by the speed and skill of the attack, leaned and plunged, thus escaping the blow. But the action of her adversary was stunning, the right sleeve already arrived near the head of the girl, clamping both sides. She had to leap back with the quickness of an arrow."Good!" the young nobleman shouted, he advanced without letting her the time to fall down on her feet. The girl, still in the air, swivelled and attacked to defend herself, kicking with her left foot in the direction of the nose of the young man. He had to move back hastily, and both fell down simultaneously on their feet. The young man had attacked with three stances, the girl had defended herself with agility, they both began to feel respect and watched each other. The girl blushed, and took the initiative to attack. The battle started anew, more desperate: it was performed so quickly that the young man looked like a shadow of shining brocade, whereas the girl resembled a red cloud.
